* Business News
-Turisas got five Top 5s in Metal Hammer magazine
-The Crash and Manboy cross the sea
-Happy Ending for Americans?
-It dont mean a thing, if it aint got that SVÄNG
-Harder than rock
-Moonrocks from Desert Planet
-Headphonics Evolution Of Funk Opus 1 & 2
-Kudos for Kiwa and Highpersonic Whomen
-Mikojan going solo
-The Cyan Velvet Projects towering new album
-Humppa til ou drop
-Whats up with the Hype! Believe Hype Productions
-Eyes set for tomorrow
-KTU recording
-Hip hop from Kool Kat
-Sunrise Avenue
-Poets of the Fall
-Pauline
-Killer Aspect
*Live News
-Leaving On a Jet Plane A Summary of Globetrotting Finns
******
A Capital City
Berlin has been the capital of something or other for 400 odd years now. Started with the Kingdom of Prussia and on to the German Empire, famous for its handsomely mustachioed heads of state. Then there was a bit of a conflagration and general unpleasantry after which Berlin became the capital of the extravagantly decadent and politically ineffectual Weimar Republic. Now, after spending decades in two, Berlin is capital of Germany again.
This spring, Berlin will also be the capital of Finnish music. Helsinki in Berlin is an unprecedented push to get quality Finnish music the kind of attention it deserves. Were talking almost 50 artists! Check out the live section for a concert listing and be on the look out for a press release with more info. Further info also in www.myspace.com/helsinkiinberlin
Of course, theres plenty of other stuff going on in Finnish music this month, too. Lets have a look
******
Business News
Turisas (CENTURY MEDIA) got five Top 5s in Metal Hammer magazine
This band of metal warriors has made some real strides in Britain, as you can see by the Metal Hammer readers poll results for 2007:
Best single: Turisas: Rasputin, # 1
Hero of the Year: Warlord Nygård, #2
Your Top Tip for 2008: Turisas, # 2
Band You Hated and Now Love: Turisas, # 3
Best video: Turisas: Rasputin, #3
The Crash and Manboy cross the sea
Manboy (CLOCKWORK MUSIC MANAGEMENT) crosses a smaller, more prosaic sea and sees its album Majestic released in Sweden on 14th May through Driver8/Playground Music. Anna Moore at Moore To Be will handle PR for the single Please Stop Crying and the album. The band recently signed with, Stockholm-based, United Stage booking agency, who will book live dates for the band. United Stage is home to some of Scandinavia’s biggest artists, such as Kent, Titiyo, Anna Ternheim, Andreas Johnson and Lisa Ekdahl.
The Crash (CLOCKWORK MUSIC MANAGEMENT) crosses the big one. Their Pony Ride album will be released in North America and UK on 20th of May through Rykodisc. The band is lined up to perform at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton on 15th May and further tour dates are to be announced for USA, Canada, UK, Japan and Australia.
Happy Ending for Americans?
The whole world is nervous about the extremely exciting rally for US presidency, but we have to tell them the truth: Not everybody gets a happy ending. Die So Fluid (PAROLE RECORDS), Parole Records & Parole Management are extremely pleased to announce that Die So Fluid’s recorded works will be available throughout the United States & Canada on Renaissance Records, via Koch Entertainment Distribution USA. The deal also will see Die So Fluids CDs released and distributed in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru & Uruguay. The agreement ensures that the bands current critically acclaimed album Not everybody gets a happy ending will be released across the USA & Canada on May 27th 2008. With the bands debut album Spawn of Dysfunction hitting US stores in the fall of 2008.
It dont mean a thing, if it aint got that SVÄNG
Sväng (AITO RECORDS), the best harmonica quartet in the world, gets a full five stars in a review in the London based newspaper, The Evening Standard. From funky Balkan to sea shanties and maudlin (in the best possible way, hoss) country, these guys blow it all. Check out the review here!
Harder than rock
Concrete steel is an unfailing material for heavy use construction but also a tough contestant at Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Finland’s representative this year is a heavy-rocking four-piece, who call themselves Teräsbetoni [Concrete Steel] (WARNER RECORDS). The band has been named as the word-bringers of Finnish metal - and these fighters truly are prepared to fight for their cause until the last strike of the sword. The song they compete in Belgrade, Serbia with is called Missä miehet ratsastaa and it is written by the vocalist J. Ahola.
Moonrocks from DESERT PLANET 
Never mind the seeming impossibility of getting moonrocks from a planet, game-electro-wonders Desert Planet (STUPIDO RECORDS) are releasing their fifth album Moonrocks. In Finland the record is released by Stupido-records 19th March. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland the album is released 4th April by 9pm-records and distributed in G/A/S by Broken Silence. Moonrocks brings new electropunk and sci-fi movie flavours to the Desert planet bitpop/pixelrock sound. A free digisingle Riot Sector 68 is available at the 9pm website.
a short tour movie to boot
19th of March is released a Short Tour Movie in bands website. Its a wild collage from the tours 2006-07 from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Finland.
Headphonics Evolution Of Funk Opus 1 & 2
Prepare yourself for new, fresh and crispy breakbeat sounds from Finland as Headphonics (EXOGENIC)release their debut album Evolution Of Funk Opus 1&2 on 12th of March on Exogenic Breaks Records. Distribution in Scandinavia by Playground Music and worldwide by Arabesque. The double album will introduce some key elements of funk music in a new and updated form.
Kudos for KIWA and HIGHPERSONIC WHOMEN
Kiwa (EXOGENIC)and Highpersonic Whomen (EXOGENIC) received excellent reviews for their albums from British DJmag in the February issue. Another stunning review for Haltyas (EXOGENIC)Book Of Nature in Upfront Mag:
I received this yesterday, and it is without doubt the most fun I’ve had with a small plastic disc for years. Psychedelic music has rarely been this funky! They’ve really come up with a coherent bunch of tunes on this one, lots of usable stuff for crazy morning mash-ups, and one or two breathtakingly original slabs of funky psy. I reckon this’ll be sitting pretty as album of the year way into 2008.
Bez23, Upfront Magazine
MIKOJAN going solo
Ex-Bloodpit singer Matthau Mikojan (POKO RECORDS/GAGA GOODIES) released his debut solo album on the 12th of March. Recording commenced in September 2007 at Cosmic Studios in Tampere, Finland. Mikojan played all the instruments on the album, except for the drums, which were played by Simo Stenman. The self-titled album was produced by Antti Suomalainen a.k.a. Lex Luthor. Matthau Mikojan has also put together a live band, consisting of studio drummer Stenman, bassist Teemu Broman and Mikojans brother, ex-Negative member Sir Christus on guitar. The band starts its tour of Finland in February.
The CYAN VELVET PROJECTS towering new album
Combining multiple musical genres in a personal and unique way, the Finnish metal band The Cyan Velvet Project (POKO RECORDS/GAGA GOODIES) releases their new album in March 2008 in Finland. The new album is called “The Towers and the Blizzard” and its the second full-length album for the band. CVP’s debut album “The Essence of Disposal” was released on fall 2006 and it received lots of positive reviews from various medias in Finland and abroad. It also granted the band a nomination at the Finnish Metal Awards in the category “Newcomer of the year” in 2007.
Humppa til ou drop
A collection of Antero Raimo & Ovet -group Ihre schönsten Humppa Hits has been released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 1st of February by German label Nordic Notes. The album includes new versions of 10 Antero-favourites translated into German
and 5 songs in Finnish. A tour in Germany is planned later this year. Also a notebook of their songs was released at the same day in Germany.
Whats u
p with the Hype! Believe Hype Productions
Finnish hard rockers Negative (HYPE RECORDS) will release their new album in May 2008. The first chance to hear the new songs live will be on April 28th when the band will perform at Columbia Club in Berlin as a part of Music Export Finlands Helsinki in Berlin -happening. Negatives latest album release Anorectic (2006) went to #1 on Finnish albums chart and the band did successful tours in Germany, Japan, China, Russia etc. following the release.
Flinch (HYPE RECORDS), an 80s influenced rock band singing in Finnish, is getting ready to release their second album on April 9th. Flinchs debut album charted at #17 on official Finnish charts and the follow-up album, produced by Jonne Aaron from Negative, is looking to take the band to the next level. Flinch will be joining their fellow Hype Records artists Negative and Dead By Gun on stage at Columbia Club, Berlin on April 28th.
Dead By Gun (HYPE RECORDS) is currently writing songs for their second album, to be released before the end of 2008. This year has started well for these punk rockers as they got their debut album released in Japan and are currently planning to play some shows over there. Dead By Gun will bring their true punk rock energy and attitude to Columbia Club in Berlin on April 28th.
The Winyls (HYPE RECORDS) will release their second album Honey & Lime on April 23rd. Praised by many as one of the best live acts in Finland today, this band has generated a lot of interest for their upcoming album among music fans and industry people alike.
Parasite City (HYPE RECORDS) released their debut album 10 Hits to K.O. on February 20th, and are currently touring and promoting the album in Finland. Produced by Johnny Lee Michaels (the 69 Eyes), the album delivers 10 melodic street rock n roll anthems that go well with Parasite Citys take-no-prisoners live performances.
Eyes set for tomorrow
After the strong Out of the Dark -debut album in 2006 Reflexion (SUPERSOUNDS MUSIC) caught the attention of the Germans. A new label Mach XX was found to release their second album Dead to the Past, Blind for Tomorrow on 14th of March in Europe.
Two singles were released off the album, the first being a digital only release Weak And Tires followed by Twilight Child a finnish only single release. The latter one contained a cover version of a Roxette hit Listen to Your Heart and entered Finnish national single charts upon its release.
The band’s music can be best described as modern hard rock with touches of gothic metal and features a strong lead vocalist of Juha Kylmänen of For My Pain… -fame.
KTU recording
KTU (HOEDOWN ARTS) (Kimmo Pohjonen, Trey Gunn, Pat Mastelotto) completed their third recording session for their next album at Zone Studios, Dripping Springs, Texas. Release is planned for autumn 2008.
Hip hop from Kool Kat
Finland’s finest or lets say the European finest hip hop label the Kool Kat Records have signed two new artist and license deal in Japan..
DJ Crates - Kombat Kuts Vol.1 vinyl album will be released on March 26th and Capitol 1212 - Raw and Disorder vinyl EP will be released on May 21 st.
P-Vine Records (Blues Interactions Inc.) in Japan license Kool Kat Records artist Staffro‘s Old Soul track from the Influence deluxe edition & Retro Crates albums. The track Old Soul will be included on a P-Vine Records compilation album called Mellow Beats, Spirits & Freedom Vol. 3 and the album will be released in Spring 2008 in Japan.
SUNRISE AVENUE 
Close to 500 000 copies of On The Way To Wonderland sold in Europe, including 2 platinum and 4 gold albums - so far
.. 2007 was THE year for this amazing Finnish rock group, Sunrise Avenue (BONNIER AMIGO MUSIC FINLAND) played more than 60 shows in Europe during the year. On top of that, the band did over a 100 promotional performances all over Europe, not to mention gigs and promotion work in their home country Finland. Especially central and eastern Europe embraced Sunrise Avenue as their new favorite band, for example in Germany they were second most played act in the radios in 2007 (right after Nelly Furtado)! Their latest single Choose To Be Me was selected the theme song for the new season of the German Big Brother TV-show, which will keep Sunrise Avenue on top of the playlist charts until the summer. The band is currently in the studio recording their second, eagerly awaited album - due to be released next fall.
POETS OF THE FALL
Poets of the Fall (SAM AGENCY) will release their third album Revolution Roulette on March 26th. In Finland. In the rest of Scandinavia, the date is 23. of April. Both earlier albums sold a platinums worth. POTF will be playing live, too
see live news for the schedule.
PAULINE 
24 years old singer/ songwriter Pauline (Kamusewu) was signed to Bonnier Amigo Music Finland in late 2007. She’s based in Sweden, where Pauline has written several songs to various number of artists during the past years. She has also released one solo album, which sold gold in Sweden and included two top 10 singles.
First single from the forthcoming album is called Loving You. It’s been added to several radio station playlists so far in Sweden and Finland. Lots of media hype around her at the moment, her unique combination of soul, jazz and pop together with high quality melodies has raised the expectations of the album to the roof not only in Scandinavia, but also rest of the world.
KILLER ASPECT
New Finnish rock sensation! Killer Aspect (BONNIER AMIGO MUSIC FINLAND) is one of the possible next international breakers from Finland. Their first single TV was added to all the rock stations in Finland among them the national radio YleX. An album is currently being recorded, its produced by Samu Haber and Jukka Backlund, both members of the highly appreciated band Sunrise Avenue.
******
Live News
Calling HANOI
ROCKS, that is
Hanoi Rocks (BACKSTAGE ALLIANCE) just wrapped up a tour of Sweden, Germany and the UK. In the UK, 85% of the shows were sold out.
DAISY in a cave
Or rather, the Cavern. You might remember that venue
Daisy (ELEMENTS MUSIC) will play at the International Pop Overthrow -festival in Liverpool on the 23rd and 24th of May.
ENSIFERUM: More Pagan Than PAgan!
Ensiferum (KING FOO ENTERTAINMENT) headlines Paganfest-tours! On the first leg of tour these pagan warriors will storm 9 European countries during April and then sail to North America to conquest 25 cities in USA and Canada. This will be the first head-liner tour in USA for the band and more to follow in autumn.
Leaving On a Jet Plane A Summary of Globetrotting Finns
Helsinki in Berlin concerts:
19.4. New Judas vs. Top Billin’: Pets On Prozac, Obi Blanche, Top Billin’ dj’s, Les Gillettes dj’s (Villa)
19.4. Valkyrians (Kato)
19.4. Jimi Tenor, RinneRadio (ROCKADILLO RECORDS) (Kesselhaus)
20.4. Tes La Rok, Dead-o, Rrimöyk, Teeth (103)
23.4. Hidria Spacefolk (NEXT BIG THING/SILENCE), Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Vilunki 3000 (West Germany)
24.4. Kemialliset Ystävät (FONAL RECORDS), Es (West Germany)
24.4. Lovex (EMI), Poets of the Fall (SAM AGENCY), Manboy (DRIVER8RECORDINGS)(Columbia Club)
25.4. Night on Earth: Op:l Bastards (LEFTA), Pepe Deluxé (CATSKILLSRECORDS), Aavikko (STUPIDO RECORDS), Moby Dictator (103)
25.4. Disco Ensemble (FULLSTEAM RECORDS), Lapko (FULLSTEAM RECORDS), I Walk The Line (COMBAT ROCK), Damn Seagulls(FULLSTEAM RECORDS), Downstairs (FULLSTEAM RECORDS) (Columbia Club)
26.4. Eläkeläiset (STUPIDO RECORDS)(Lido)
26.4. Luomo (HUUME), Jori Hulkkonen, Sasse (MOODMUSIC)(Weekend)
26.4. 22-Pistepirkko (BONE VOYAGE), Judge Bone (BONE VOYAGE), Anssi8000 (BONE VOYAGE)(Magnet)
27.4. Diablo (SAKARA), Stam1na (SAKARA), Discard (KING FOO ENTERTAINMENT)(Knaack)
28.4. Negative, Dead by Gun, Flinch (HYPE RECORDS)(Columbia Club)
28.4. Stripped to the Bone - exhibition/concert by Asko Keränen/Oliver
Whitehead, Anssi8000 Live (West Germany)
29.4. M.A. Numminen, Sväng (HOEDOWN), Marko Haavisto & Poutahaukat (JOHANNA/PYRAMID)(Quasimodo)
29.4. Tuomo (TEXICALLI), Stance Brothers (RICKY-TICK)(Bohannon)
30.4. Five Corners Quintet (RICKY-TICK)(Tausend)
Francine (POKO RECORDS)
13.03.2008 Essen, Capribar, GERMANY
14.03.2008 Eindhoven, The Rambler, NETHERLANDS
15.03.2008 Berlin, Wild at Heart, GERMANY
16.03.2008 Prague, club Bordo, CZECH
17.03.2008 Brno, Club Faval, CZECH
18.03.2008 Zlin, Club U Tetoura, CZECH
19.03.2008 Regensburg, Club Underground/Alte Mälzerei, GERMANY
20.03.2008 TBA, FRANCE
21.03.2008 Konstanz,Contrast, GERMANY
22.03.2008 Heilbronn, Stereo Total, GERMANY
La Sega Del Canto (DEX)(an Eläkeläiset spin-off) tour Germany
15.03.2008 Cafe Zapata, Berlin (GER)
16.03.2008 naTo, Leipzig (GER)
17.03.2008 Stillbruch, Bamberg (GER)
18.03.2008 Objekt 5, Halle (GER)
19.03.2008 Glashaus, Bayreuth (GER)
20.03.2008 Musikcafe Jam, Bad Windsheim (GER)
21.03.2008 Raum4, Fürth (GER)
22.03.2008 Cafe Vinyl, Wetzlar (GER)
23.03.2008 Struwelpeter, Kronach (GER
Eläkeläiset (STUPIDO RECORDS)
11.04.2008 Lido, Berlin (GER)
12.04.2008 Klub Neue Mensa, Dresden (GER)
13.04.2008 Moritzbastei, Leipzig (GER)
14.04.2008 F-Haus, Jena (GER)
15.04.2008 Live Club, Bamberg (GER)
16.04.2008 Substage, Karlsruhe (GER)
17.04.2008 Backstage, Munchen
18.04.2008 Szene, Wien (AUT)
19.04.2008 Szene, Wien (AUT)
20.04.2008 Alte Mälzerei, Regensburg (GER)
21.04.2008 Hirsch, Nurnberg (GER)
22.04.2008 Schlachthof, Wiesbaden (GER)
23.04.2008 Zeche Carl, Essen (GER)
24.04.2008 Logo, Hamburg (GER)
25.04.2008 Logo, Hamburg (GER)
26.04.2008 Lido, Berlin (GER)
07.06.2008 Sweden Rock, Sölvesborg (SWE)
13.06.2008 Rabarock, Järväkandi (EST)
14.06.2008 Provinssirock, Seinäjoki
12.07.2008 Ilosaarirock, Joensuu
Värttinä (HOEDOWN ARTS)
May 28: Leipzig, Germany Finnish EU-event
May 30: Ulm, Germany - Ulmer Zeit
June 13: Poznan, Poland - Ethnoport Festival
Kimmo Pohjonen (HOEDOWN ARTS)
Earth Machine Music tour of UK
Kimmo Pohjonen will make his Earth Machine Music tour of UK in May 2008. Four towns and venues in rural England are selected to present Pohjonens performances with accordion and farm machines.
May 11: Hall Farm, Nowton. (Bury St Edmunds Festival).
May 13: Manor Farm, Cocking, West Sussex (County Arts Service West Sussex + Roots Around The World).
May 15: Westcott Barton, Middle Marwood, Barnstaple, North Devon (Beaford Arts).
May 17: Park Farm, North Aston, Oxfordshire (Oxford Contemporary Music).
Turisas (CENTURY MEDIA) with support by Norther (CENTURY MEDIA)
06.03.2008 United Kingdom - Norwich @ Waterfront
07.03.2008 United Kingdom - Peterborough @ Park
08.03.2008 United Kingdom - Leeds @ Cockpit
10.03.2008 United Kingdom - Exeter @ Cavern
11.03.2008 United Kingdom - Cardiff @ Clwb Lfor Bach
12.03.2008 United Kingdom - Southampton @ The Brook
13.03.2008 United Kingdom - London @ Electric Ballroom
14.03.2008 United Kingdom - Brighton @ Concorde 2
15.03.2008 Netherlands - Haarlem @ Patronaat
16.03.2008 Netherlands - Nijmegen @ Doornroosje
18.03.2008 Germany - Hamburg @ Marx
19.03.2008 Germany - Karlsruhe @ Stadthalle
20.03.2008 Germany - Munich @ Metropolis
21.03.2008 Switzerland - Winterthur @ Salzhaus
22.03.2008 Germany - Bochum @ Matrix
23.03.2008 Germany - Berlin @ Kato
25.03.2008 Austria - Vienna @ Planet Music
26.03.2008 Slovakia - Bratislava @ Randal
27.03.2008 Czech Republic - Prague @ Rock Cafe
28.03.2008 Germany - Lichtenfels @ Ragnarok Festival
29.03.2008 Germany - Osnabrueck @ Tomahawk Festival
31.03.2008 Sweden - Malmoe @ KB
01.04.2008 Sweden - Gothenburg @ Musikens Hus
02.04.2008 Denmark - Copenhagen @ The Rock
03.04.2008 Norway - Oslo @ John Dee
04.04.2008 Sweden - Stockholm @ Klubben
Poets of the Fall (SAM AGENCY)
22.4.2008 A2 Club, St Petersburg, Russia
23.4.2008 Ikra, Moscow, Russia
24.4.2008 Columbia Club, Berlin, Germany (Hki in Berlin)
29.4.2008 House of Blues, Los Angeles, USA (Musexpo)
9.5.2008 Sticky Fingers, Göteborg, Sweden